Kenya mall attack 'message to Westerners': Shabab

A journalist rescues a woman injured in a shootout between armed men and the police at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya. (Reuters Photo)

A policeman carries a baby to safety after masked gunmen stormed an upmarket mall and sprayed gunfire on shoppers and staff, killing at least 39. ...

Emergency personnel carry a woman to an ambulance in the car park as police search through the Westgate shopping centre for gunmen in Nairobi, Kenya. ...

A cop walks outside the evacuated Westgate shopping mall during a shootout with unidentified armed men in Nairobi, Kenya. (Reuters Photo)

Women carrying children run for safety as armed police hunt gunmen who went on a shooting spree in Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, Kenya. (Reuters ...

Security forces push an injured person in a shopping trolley past the body of a man from the Westgate shopping centre as police search for ...

Terrified children wait by the body of a man after escaping from the Westgate shopping centre as police search for gunmen in Nairobi. (Reuters Photo)

People come out from hiding under a car next to bodies in a car park as police search for gunmen in Westgate shopping centre in ...

Police take cover outside Westgate shopping centre where gunmen went on a shooting spree in Nairobi, Kenya. (Reuters Photo)

People with children run for safety as armed police hunt gunmen who went on a shooting spree at Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, Kenya. (Reuters ...

The Nairobi mall carnage in which several foreigners were killed by Islamist fighters was a "message to Westerners" who supported Kenya, Somalia's Shabab chief said in an audio message on Wednesday.

Reclusive rebel supremo Ahmed Abdi Godane said the four-day bloodbath was a warning to Westerners who "backed Kenya's invasion (of Somalia) that has spilled the blood of the Muslims for the interest of their oil companies".

Godane, who called the killing of at least 67 people including the execution of children a "historic operation", said the assault on the upmarket Westgate mall was also a threat of "more bloodshed" if Kenya did not withdraw its troops from Somalia. Read: Kenya mourns as searchers scour mall for victims

The al-Qaeda linked group he co-founded has already claimed responsibility for the shocking assault on the sprawling complex, but it is the first time Godane, for whom America has offered a $7 million bounty, has issued a public statement.

Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta announced an end to the 80-hour bloodbath late on Tuesday, with the "immense" loss of 61 civilians and six members of the security forces. Dozens more are reported missing. Read: Gujaratis took the biggest hit in Kenya

A plume of black smoke billows over the Westgate Mall, following large explosions and heavy gunfire, in Nairobi. (AP Photo)

"You have squandered your peace and prosperity and lost your boys," Godane added.

"You elected your politicians, you pay the tax to arm the forces of Uhuru that are massacring the Muslims, you supported the decision to go to war."